Takes risks, but doesn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Less demanding than any other work by these two seasoned players.
Proof that there’s no substitute for a good pair of ears and an engaging sequence.
Improvised Ethiopian music that, at times, goes nowhere.
A satisfyingly roosty, late-summer soundtrack.
He doesn't take himself too seriously, and neither should you.
Three musicians not taking themselves seriously, but taking their music very much so
Simon Balthazar is what makes Fanfarlo most distinctive.
This rare international release is a loose-limbed, rootsy treat.
Their country rock charms somehow seemed pretty much lost on the Great American Public.
This hugely entertaining compilation charts their peak years.
A hit-and-miss range of performances.
Bold, varied and adventurous
This is a fine place to start
The passion DJ Charlie Gillett maintains for world music is obvious.
The idea of fusing the music of the Middle East and India with flamenco isn't exactly...
Strawberry Blood isn't terrible, just mundane.
It manages to transcend its influences through a combination of sturdy melodies.
How much you enjoy this will depend on how funky you like your samba.
It does sound like her muse is finally on the mend.
Reviving and reinventing the fevered Cambodian pop of the 60s and 70s.
With over five hours of music, this is probably all the Alaap you’ll ever need.
A writer this erudite and imaginative leaves precious little space for clichés.
It’s business as usual and business, as usual, is pretty damn good.
Mixing old school hip hop and serious social issues, this falls short of memorable.
Pleasant tunes but . . . Maal is too discreet a presence on his own album.
This leading young Cuban pianist has made another wide-ranging and accomplished album.
Reveals ever more of its layered charms with each listen.
It's a flawed but frequently intriguing listen.
Au Revoir Simone are a 'girl group' with a difference.
A heartfelt tribute to the master storyteller.
Wilson’s husky contralto is a treat throughout.
The third album by this Montreal-based singer/songwriter arrives six years.
Jassi Sidhu has become one of the UK's most popular Bhangra artists
They say Satan has all the best tunes, and on this evidence they may just be right.
Exotic aural wallpaper with pretty but inconsequential patterns.
A more playful, experimental side of their music.
The combination of tradition and innovation is largely successful.
Music with a few rough edges and more originality.
There's some serious song writing talent under all that sonic debris.
One of Finland's most popular bands abroad.
The Sleeper is lush, pastoral and very English
You get the feeling this 70-year-old master will roll on for some time to come.
The playing is sublime throughout, and the arrangements varied.
It's been too long since any album proper from the ‘songbird of Wassoulou’.
A fine introduction to this underexposed but intriguing artist.
Vintage synths and contemporary beats.
Naylor's chameleonesque vocal persona soon begins to work its magic.
Taylor's singing and the accompaniment are top notch.
Why have 'cordial' when 'real juice' is just as widely available and costs no more?
